Mobile station originated SMS using digital traffic channel

ABSTRACT

A method is disclosed for operating a user terminal, such as a cellular radiotelephone, of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through an RF interface. The method includes a first step of storing at least one message in a memory accessible by the mobile station. A second step transmits a Teleservice origination (e.g., a SMS origination) request from the mobile station to the network using a reverse digital control channel. The request specifies that a reverse digital traffic channel be assigned to the mobile station. A next step, executed in response to being assigned to a reverse digital traffic channel, transmits the at least one stored message to a SMS center that is coupled to the network, the at least one stored message being transmitted over the assigned reverse digital traffic channel. In a preferred embodiment of this invention the SMS origination request is transmitted using a random access channel, the step of transmitting the at least one stored message includes a step of bypassing a voice coder and a data modem within the mobile station, and the step of transmitting the at least one stored message is accomplished in an ARQ mode of operation. Also disclosed is a method to deliver Teleservice messages in a wireless communications system that are not constrained by any message length limitations imposed by the air interface or network layers supporting the wireless service.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to radiotelephones and, in particular,to mobile stations such as those capable of operation with a cellularnetwork or with a personal communications network (PCN).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The so-called Short Message Service (SMS) is a Teleservice specified insome modern cellular communications systems, for example IS-136, forenabling a user to send messages to, and receive text messages from, thecommunications network. The SMS attempts to deliver a message to amobile station (MS) whenever the mobile station is registered to thenetwork, even when the mobile station is engaged in a voice or datacall. The mobile station may roam throughout the network and still becapable of sending and receiving messages. As presently specified inIS-136.1, a mobile station configured for SMS provides methods for theuser to receive, read, clear, send, and save messages.

The IS-136 specification presently enables both mobile stationterminated (network to mobile station) and mobile station originated(mobile station to network) SMS. The SMS Point-to-Point, Paging andAccess Response Channel (SPACH) is specified for use in the mobilestation terminated SMS mode. As is specified in IS-136.1 Rev. A, Mar.21, 1996, Section 7.1.1.2.1 and Section 7.1.2.2, a SMS Submit message isalso defined for sending a SMS message from the mobile station. The SMSSubmit message is specified to be sent to the network, more particularlyto the Base Station/Mobile Switching Center/Interworking Function (BMI),in an R-DATA message. The R-DATA message is sent on a reverse (i.e.,MS→BMI) digital control channel.

It can be appreciated that the use of the reverse digital controlchannel to send the mobile station originated SMS messages has thedisadvantage of consuming a valuable system resource that couldotherwise be used to convey signalling information for, by example,mobile station registration and call origination purposes. Typically,there are significantly fewer digital control channels assigned in awireless communications system than there are traffic (e.g., voiceand/or data) channels. While the use of the digital control channel maynot be especially disadvantageous for one mobile station transmitting arelatively short SMS messages (e.g., less than about 200 characters), ifseveral mobile stations were simultaneously transmitting longer SMSmessages the overall system capacity can be reduced.

Furthermore, existing Teleservices place restrictions on the length ofmessages that can be transmitted from a mobile station using the R-DATAmessage. Such restrictions can be a significant disadvantage when it isdesired to transmit a message that exceeds the specified maximum lengthof the R-DATA message for a particular system.

More particularly, and referring specifically to the IS-136 airinterface, Teleservices are supported for SMS and Over the Air ServiceProvisioning, that is, Over-the-Air Activation Teleservices (OATS).Other Teleservices are envisioned in the future. These Teleservicesutilize the Layer 3 R-DATA message to transport their transactions overthe air interface. At the BMI the R-DATA message is translated into aShort Message Delivery Point-to-Point (SMDPP) message for relay throughthe IS-41 network. These two mechanisms (R-DATA and SMDPP) can eachimpose constraints on the size of a Teleservice or Applicationtransaction. It would thus be desirable to provide a method to free theTeleservice definition from these arbitrary constraints. In fact, theseconstraints may be so onerous that they may effectively shut aparticular Teleservice down.

In IS-136 the BMI may limit the size of R-DATA messages through the R₋₋Data₋₋ Message Length information element provided in the Fast BroadcastControl Channel (F-BCCH) Access Parameters message. This currentlyallows the BMI to limit mobile station originated R-DATA messages toeither 31, 63, 127, or "Limited only by layer 2 format" (which providesapproximately 250) bytes in length. There is also a proposal to define anew value that provides an air interface limit that conforms to thelargest user data space that may be accommodated into one IS-41 SMDPPmessage. This is currently expected to be approximately 204 bytes.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of this invention to provide a wirelesscommunications system that implements a mobile station originatedTeleservice function, such as SMS, without the use of a reverse digitalcontrol channel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cellularcommunications system that implements a mobile station originatedTeleservice function, such as SMS, through the use of a digital trafficchannel which is normally allocated for voice and data transmissions.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for effectingsignalling between a mobile station and a BMI so as to enable a reversedigital traffic channel to be used to convey a Teleservice message, andto avoid the use of a vocoder or data modem that would typically beconnected to the traffic channel by the BMI.

It is one further object of this invention to provide a method formessage transmission that is unconstrained by R-DATA or SMDPP messagelength restrictions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other problems are overcome and the objects of theinvention are realized by methods and apparatus in accordance withembodiments of this invention.

A method of this invention is disclosed for operating a user terminal,such as a cellular radiotelephone, of a type that is bidirectionallycoupled to a network through an RF interface. The method includes afirst step of storing at least one message in a memory accessible by themobile station. A second step transmits a Teleservice (e.g., SMS)origination request from the mobile station to the network using areverse digital control channel. The request specifies that a reversedigital traffic channel be assigned to the mobile station. A next step,executed in response to being assigned to a reverse digital trafficchannel, transmits the at least one stored message to a SMS center thatis coupled to the network, the at least one stored message beingtransmitted over the assigned reverse digital traffic channel.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the Teleservice originationrequest is transmitted using a random access channel, the step oftransmitting the at least one stored message includes a step ofbypassing a voice coder and a data modem within the mobile station, andthe step of transmitting the at least one stored message is accomplishedin an Automatic Retransmission Request (ARQ) mode of operation.

In one embodiment of this invention the mobile station transmits anOrigination message having both Voice Mode and Data Mode fields set soas to inform the BMI that neither a vocoder or data modem are requiredto receive the mobile station's transmission. Having configured the BMIto receive a mobile station originated SMS transmission, the mobilestation 10 transmits the SMS message on a digital traffic channel thatis assigned by the BMI. In response, the BMI receives and demodulatesthe mobile station transmission and routes the received user data unit,along with appropriate identification and support information, to theSMS message center for subsequent processing in a conventional manner.

Further in accordance with this invention there is described a method todeliver Teleservices in a wireless communications system that are notconstrained by any message length limitations imposed by the airinterface or network layers supporting the wireless service. The methodapplies compression, encryption, segmentation and assembly services, endto end acknowledgment, retransmission of segments, and error detectionand retransmission of the entire Teleservice transaction. This processis referred to herein as a Teleservice Transmission Service or TTS.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention a method is disclosedfor operating a wireless communications network to transmit aTeleservices message from a source to a destination. The method includesthe following steps: (a) inputting to a Teleservice Transmission Service(TTS) a Teleservices message to be transmitted, the Teleservices messagebeing input through a first TTS Service Access Point (SAP); (b)partitioning the Teleservices message into a plurality of smallermessage segments each having a maximum size that is equal to or lessthan a specified maximum length of a message unit (e.g., an R-DATAmessage data length) for a DCCH message transport facility; and (c)outputting the message segments from the TTS through a second TTS SAP toan air interface service for transmission to the destination. The methodfurther includes optional steps of compression and/or encrypting theTeleservices message and then (d) transmitting a first message from thesource to the destination for specifying at least a total number ofmessage segments to be transmitted, the first message also conveying afirst message segment; (e) transmitting one or more second messages fromthe source to the destination, each second message conveying a furthermessage segment and also specifying at least a number of remainingmessage segments; and (f) transmitting a final message from the sourceto the destination, the final message conveying a last message segmentand also specifying the end of the Teleservices message.

Although described primarily in the context of the SMS Teleservice, itshould be appreciated that the teaching of this invention applies aswell to other types of Teleservices, including OATS, and also futureTeleservices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above set forth and other features of the invention are made moreapparent in the ensuing Detailed Description of the Invention when readin conjunction with the attached Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile station that is constructed andoperated in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the mobile station shown in FIG. 1, andwhich further illustrates a cellular communication system to which themobile station is bidirectionally coupled through wireless RF links;

FIG. 3 is a logic flow diagram illustrating one method of thisinvention, specifically a mobile station implemented method oftransmitting a SMS message over a digital traffic channel;

FIG. 4 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a second method of thisinvention, specifically a BMI implemented method of setting up andreceiving a SMS message over a digital traffic channel;

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram illustrating signal and messageflow through a Teleservice Transmission Service (TTS) in accordance withan aspect of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating a TTS message size spreadsheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 for illustrating a mobile terminal orstation 10, in particular a cellular radiotelephone or a personalcommunicator, that is suitable for practicing this invention. The mobilestation 10 includes an antenna 12 for transmitting signals to and forreceiving signals from a base site or base station 30. The base station30 is a part of a cellular network 32 that includes a mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 34, a SMS center 36, voice coder/decoders (vocoders) VC 38,data modems (DM) 40, and other units required to operate the network.The MSC 34 is capable of routing calls and messages to and from themobile station 10 when the mobile station is making and receiving calls.As was indicated above, the cellular network 32 may also be referred toas a Base Station/MSC/Interworking function (BMI).

The mobile station 10 includes a modulator (MOD) 14A, a transmitter 14,a receiver 16, a demodulator (DEMOD) 16A, and a controller 18 thatprovides signals to and receives signals from the transmitter 14 andreceiver 16, respectively. These signals include signalling informationin accordance with the air interface standard of the applicable cellularsystem, and also user speech and/or user generated data. The airinterface standard is assumed for this invention to include at least SMSand/or OATS capability. One suitable type of Teleservice capability isdefined in Section 7 of IS-136.1, Rev. A., as modified by the teachingof this invention.

A user interface includes a conventional speaker 17, a conventionalmicrophone 19, a display 20, and a user input device, typically a keypad22, all of which are coupled to the controller 18. The keypad 22includes numeric and alphanumeric keys, related keys (#,*) 22a, and alsoother keys 22b used for operating the mobile station 10. These otherkeys 22b may include, by example, a SEND key, various menu scrolling andsoft keys, and a PWR key. The mobile station 10 also includes a battery26 for powering the various circuits that are required to operate themobile station.

The mobile station 10 also includes various memories, shown collectivelyas the memory 24, wherein are stored a plurality of constants andvariables that are used by the controller 18 during the operation of themobile station.

For example, the memory 24 stores the values of various cellular systemparameters and the number assignment module (NAM). An operating programfor controlling the operation of controller 18 is also stored in thememory 24 (typically in a ROM device). The memory 24 also stores data,including user messages, that are received from the cellular network 32prior to the display of the messages to the user. The memory 24 alsostores messages that are composed by the user prior to transmission tothe BMI 32. In general, the operating program in the memory 24 includesroutines to present messages and message-related functions to the useron the display 20. The memory 24 also includes routines for implementingthe method described below in relation to FIG. 3, and also portions ofFIG. 5.

It should be understood that the mobile station 10 can be a vehiclemounted or a handheld device. It should further be appreciated that themobile station 10 can be capable of operating with one or more airinterface standards, modulation types, and access types. By example, themobile station may be capable of operating in accordance with any of anumber of other digital standards, such as GSM, GSM/DCS, and IS-95(CDMA). Narrow-band AMPS (NAMPS), as well as TACS, mobile stations mayalso benefit from the teaching of this invention. In general, theteaching of this invention applies to any radiotelephone or personalcommunicator that is capable of receiving or transmitting messages fromor to a network, and that furthermore includes a user input device, suchas a keypad, with which the user can generate messages and also interactwith a displayed menu to select various mobile station functions and toinput data. It should thus be clear that the teaching of this inventionis not to be construed to be limited to any one particular type ofmobile station or air interface standard.

One presently preferred air interface standard is one specified byIS-136.1, Rev. 1, Mar. 12, 1996, which includes facilities for providingdigital control and traffic channels, SMS capabilities, and also areverse Random Access Channel (RACH) which is used by the mobile station10 to request access to the system. In a first aspect this inventionexploits to advantage these and other features of IS-136 so as toprovide an improved mobile station originated SMS capability. However,and as was indicated above, the teaching of this invention is not to beconstrued to be limited for use only with this one air interfacestandard, or with only SMS Teleservice capability.

IS-136.1 specifies the structure and information elements of SMSmessages generally in Sections 7.1-7.3. One logical channel of theDigital Control Channel (DCCH) is referred to as the SMS Point-to-Point,Paging and Access Response Channel or SPACH (Section 2.3.2), which isused to transmit mobile station terminated SMS messages from the BMI 32.Also of interest is Section 6.4.4.9 (the R-DATA relay message), andSections 7.1.1.2.1 and 7.1.2.2 (SMS Submit message). The SMS Submitmessage is currently specified to be sent by the mobile station 10 tothe BMI in an R-DATA message, and includes a field (User Data Unit) forsending the user-inputted message.

In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, the mobile station10 and BMI 32 are modified to instead send and receive, respectively,the User Data Unit over an assigned reverse Digital Traffic Channel(DTC).

Section 6.4.4.7 of IS-136.1, Rev. A, specifies the format of anOrigination message that is sent from the mobile station 10 to the BMI32. One field of this message is referred to as Voice Mode and anotherfield is referred to as Data Mode.

The Voice Mode field information element is defined to not be includedif a Service Code information element indicates analog speech only. TheVoice Mode information element may not be included if the Service Codeindicates digital speech only, or analog or digital speech. If notincluded, the Voice Mode is defined to default to a VSELP voice coder(and no voice privacy).

The Data Mode information element is defined to be included if theService Code indicates ASYNC Data or G3-Fax. This information element isdefined to not be included if the Service Code indicates speech.

In one embodiment of this invention the mobile station 10 sends theorigination message with both the Voice Mode and Data Mode fields set soas to inform the BMI that neither the vocoder 38 or data modem 40 arerequired to receive the mobile station's transmission. Having configuredthe BMI 32 to receive the mobile station originated SMS transmission,the mobile station 10 then transmits the SMS message on an assigneddigital traffic channel. In response, the BMI 32 receives anddemodulates the mobile station transmission and routes the received userdata unit, along with appropriate identification and support information(see Section 7.1.2.2), to the SMS message center 36 for subsequentprocessing in a conventional manner.

In greater detail, and referring now to FIG. 3, at Block A the mobilestation responds to a user selecting a SMS origination mode and theentry, via the keypad 22, of the user's message. It should be noted thatin some embodiments of this invention the mobile station 10 can beconnected to an external data processor through a suitable dataconnection, and the user is thereby enabled to enter the message fromthe external data processor. The entered SMS message is stored in thememory 24 prior to transmission.

It should be noted the stored message need not be entered by the user,but could instead, by example, have been previously received from theair interface, in which case the message is being forwarded to anotheruser.

At Block B the mobile station requests the assignment of a digitaltraffic channel using the DCCH, specifically the RACH. The trafficchannel can be requested using the above-described origination message(Section 6.4.4.7). That is, the mobile station 10 makes a request for atraffic channel while indicating that neither the vocoder 38 or datamodem 40 is required at the BMI 32 end. If desired, the signallingprotocol can be modified so as to define a specific mobile stationoriginated SMS message, which message is then interpreted by the BMI 32as a request to assign a reverse digital traffic channel to the mobilestation 10 without the use of the vocoder 38 or data modem 40.

At Block C the mobile station 10 waits for a digital traffic channel tobe assigned. At Block D the mobile station 10 switches to the assigneddigital traffic channel, but does not activate its internal voice coder(VC) 18a or, if present, data modem (DM) 18b.

At Block E the mobile station 10 transmits the SMS message stored in thememory 24 using the assigned digital traffic channel. At Block F themobile station 10 checks to see if additional SMS messages have beenstored in the memory 24. If Yes, control passes back to Block E totransmit the further SMS message. If No, the mobile station procedureterminates.

Before transmission of the SMS message on the assigned DTC the mobilestation 10 may transmit FACCH filler messages. Also, and in accordancewith conventional operation on the DTC, the mobile station 10 mayinitially transmit shortened bursts to the BMI 32.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the correspondingprocedure performed by the BMI 32. At Block A the BMI 32 receives arequest for a digital traffic channel for use in the mobile stationoriginated SMS mode. At Block B the BMI determines if a digital trafficchannel is available for use by the mobile station 10. Assuming that adigital traffic channel is available, at Block C the BMI 32 assigns theavailable digital traffic channel to the mobile station 10. Theassignment can be made using a conventional forward DCCH assignmentmessage (see Section 6.4.3.6, Digital Voice Channel Designationmessage). The BMI 32 does not activate the vocoder 38 or data modem 40for the assigned digital traffic channel. At Block D the BMI 32 receivesone or more SMS messages over the assigned digital traffic channel fromthe mobile station 10 and demodulates the received transmission toextract the SMS user data unit therefrom. The extracted user data unit(UDU) is then routed to the SMS message center 36 for further processingin a conventional manner. The user data unit is typically accompanied byother information, such as Acknowledgment Requests, Call Back Number,etc., as indicated in the SMS Submit message shown in Section 7.1.2.2 ofIS-136.1, Rev. A.

Any acknowledgements that are required to be transmitted from the BMI 32to the mobile station 10 are transmitted on a corresponding forward DTC.Between such transmissions, and because no voice coder has beenallocated to the forward DTC, the BMI 32 sends FACCH filler messageswhile not responding to the mobile station messages. Also, while sendingthe SMS message(s) the mobile station may use the ARQ procedures.

At Block D, and assuming that the SMS message or messages have beenreceived from the mobile station 10, the BMI 32 unassigns the trafficchannel and terminates the procedure.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile station SMSorigination message request can be made to a specific directorytelephone number assigned to the SMS message center 36.

As was stated above, when using the digital traffic channel for the SMStransmission the BMI 32 may simply send filler FACCH messages, exceptwhen acknowledging the receipt of the mobile station SMS messages. Themobile station 10 will typically send the SMS message using either theAutomatic Retransmission Request (ARQ) mode (see Section 5.4, IS-136.1,Rev. A), or the R-DATA message mode, as transport. It should be notedthat the R-DATA transport mode, without voice, can also be used to sendother information related to other Teleservices, such as OATS.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention the Block B of FIG. 3 canbe modified so as to include a preliminary decision step as to whetherto send the SMS message using the reverse digital control channel, or tosend the SMS message using the digital traffic channel in accordancewith an aspect of this invention. By example, this determination can bebased on the length of the message stored in the memory 24 (e.g., allmessages greater than n characters are sent using the digital trafficchannel), or can be based on a user specifying one mode of transportover the other, or could be based on existing system conditions. Byexample, during periods of heavy system loading it may be more desirableto send all SMS messages over a digital traffic channel to avoidcongestion of the reverse digital control channels.

The flow chart of FIG. 3 can also be modified so as to enable adiscontinuous SMS transmission mode of operation. By example, inresponse to the user beginning to compose the SMS message at Block A,the mobile station can begin the request for the digital traffic channeland can thereafter initiate the transmission of the partially composedmessage to the BMI 32.

Having described a first embodiment of this invention, a furtherembodiment will now be described with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. Althoughthis further embodiment of the invention is also specifically describedin the context of the IS-136 Teleservices, these teachings are generallyapplicable to any Wireless Communications System offering Teleservice orApplication layer services to wireless terminals.

In accordance with this further embodiment of the invention there isdescribed a method to deliver Teleservices in a wireless communicationssystem. This method is not constrained by any message length limitationsimposed by the air interface or network layers supporting the wirelessservice. In general, the method applies compression, encryption,segmentation and assembly services, end to end acknowledgment,retransmission of segments, and error detection and retransmission ofthe entire Teleservice transaction, and is referred to a TeleserviceTransmission Service or TTS.

This further aspect of the invention makes more efficient use of theDCCH when transmitting SMS and other Teleservice messages. However, itshould be realized that this further embodiment of the invention canalso be used for transporting one or more SMS messages using the DTC asdescribed above.

FIG. 5 depicts the relation between each of the sub-services offered bythe Teleservice Transmission Service 50, the Teleservice user (e.g., themobile station 10), and the Air Interface Service used by the TTS. Thevarious Service Access Points (SAP) defining the input and outputboundaries of the TTS are identified.

Block 52 in FIG. 5 illustrates a Teleservice message, such as but notlimited to a user-composed SMS message, that is to be transported from asource (e.g., the mobile station 10) to a destination (e.g., the BMI32). The arrow designated as Teleservices Dialog indicates that theTeleservice message is logically transferred directly to the destinationpeer Teleservice. The delivered or transferred message is designated 54.However, the actual Teleservices message delivery involves severalunderlying services, as will now be described.

The Teleservice message 52 is applied across a first TTS service accesspoint (SAP) 55 to a compression service 56. The compression service 56,and a corresponding decompression service 58, are used to reduce thesize of the Teleservice message so as to limit the required messagebandwidth, and to then subsequently expand the compressed message,respectively. Any suitable data compression and decompression algorithmcan be employed to implement the compression and decompression services56 and 58. After compression the Teleservice message is applied to anencryption service 60. The encryption service 60, and a correspondingdecryption service 62, are utilized to protect the privacy andconfidentiality of the Teleservice message. As with the compression anddecompression services, any suitable data encryption and decryptionalgorithm may be employed.

It should be noted that the use of the compression and decompressionservices 56 and 58, and/or the encryption/decryption services 60 and 62is optional.

The compressed and encrypted Teleservice message is next applied to asegmentation service 62. The segmentation service 62 is employed, inaccordance with an aspect of this invention, to distribute or partitionthe Teleservice message into as many air interface messages (e.g.,R-DATA messages) as are necessary to deliver the Teleservice message. Acorresponding assembly service 64 is used to reassemble the distributedTeleservice message into a complete message, prior to decryption anddecompression. The reassembly process, and subsequent error checking,acknowledgement, decryption, and decompression processes is governed byvarious information fields that form a part of the Teleservices messagetransmission protocol, as will be described below.

The output of the segmentation service 62 is applied to a Layer 3 SAP 65and thence to the air interface service 66. A transmit air interfaceservice 66 and a receive air interface service 68 provide the necessarysize limits to insure that network service constraints are not violated.In the IS-136 embodiment the segmentation service 62 operates, inaccordance with an aspect of this invention, to partition or encapsulatethe Teleservice message into one or more R-DATA messages, which are thenprovided to the air interface service 66. The output of the airinterface service 66 is applied to the network service 70 whichphysically transports the Teleservice message to the received airinterface service 68 (e.g., from the mobile station 10 to the BMI 32using the assigned logical and physical channel).

It should be noted that, in some embodiments of this invention, one ofthe air interface services 66 or 68 could be bypassed (indicated by thedashed arrows), and the data sent instead though, by example, a wirednetwork. In general, one of the air interface service blocks 66 or 68includes the base station 30 and the RF links to a mobile station 10,while the network service block 70 includes the MSC and interworkingfunction. It should be further noted that the air interface serviceblocks 66 and 68 need not both implement the same air interface (e.g.,IS-136).

The path from block 68 to block 54 provides the opposite or reversefunctionality of the forward path from block 52 to block 66. In thereverse path the Layer 3 SAP 65 and TTS SAP 55 are traversed in thereverse order compared to the forward path. It is noted that forward andreverse in this sense may not necessarily correspond to the forward andreverse channels between the mobile station 10 and the BMI 32. The endresult is the transport of the Teleservice message 52 from the source tothe destination as the Teleservice message 54.

For seamless integration with existing Teleservice definitions in, forexample IS-136, a new Higher Layer Protocol Identifier (HLPI) isallocated for the TTS. This is the HLPI that is used in the R-DATAmessage. The actual Teleservice HLPI is carried within a TTS Header,which allows the TTS to deliver the complete message to the appropriateTeleservice.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention the TTS Header is appendedto the beginning of each Teleservice message 52 that requirestransmission. Additionally, a TTS Segment Header is appended to thebeginning of each TTS Message Segment submitted to Layer 3 forencapsulation into an R-DATA message. The following Tables A-D depictthese header formats.

                  TABLE A                                                         ______________________________________                                        TTS Begin Message Header                                                      Field                Length (bits)                                            ______________________________________                                        TTS Protocol Discriminator                                                                         2                                                        TTS Message Type     3                                                        TTS Transaction ID   3                                                        TTS Sequence Number  8                                                        Segment Remaining Length (N)                                                                       8                                                        TTS Message Length (bytes)                                                                         13                                                       Teleservice HLPI     8                                                        Compression          2                                                        Encryption           2                                                        Teleservice message Length (bytes)                                                                 13                                                       Number of Segments   8                                                        Acknowledgement Window                                                                             2                                                        CRC Status           1                                                        Segment Data         N                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE B                                                         ______________________________________                                        TTS Continue Message Header                                                   Field               Length (bits)                                             ______________________________________                                        TTS Protocol Discriminator                                                                        2                                                         TTS Message Type    3                                                         TTS Transaction ID  3                                                         TTS Sequence Number 8                                                         Segment Remaining Length (N)                                                                      8                                                         Segment Data        N                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE C                                                         ______________________________________                                        TTS End Message Header                                                        Field               Length (bits)                                             ______________________________________                                        TTS Protocol Discriminator                                                                        2                                                         TTS Message Type    3                                                         TTS Transaction ID  3                                                         TTS Sequence Number 8                                                         Segment Remaining Length (N)                                                                      8                                                         Segment Data        N                                                         CRC                 16                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE D                                                         ______________________________________                                        TTS Response Message Header                                                   Field              Length (bits)                                              ______________________________________                                        TTS Protocol Discriminator                                                                       2                                                          TTS Message Type   3                                                          TTS Transaction ID 3                                                          TTS Status         8                                                          Number of segments 8                                                          TTS Acknowledgement Map                                                                          1-256                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The following field definitions are used for TTS Messages. All bitpatterns that are not specifically defined may be considered to bereserved.

TTS Protocol Discriminator

00: TTS Protocol Version No.

TTS Message Type

000: TTS Begin

001: TTS Continue

010: TTS End

011: TTS Response

TTS Transaction ID

Set by the originator of the TTS Message 52. The ID field is used todistinguish message streams, and thus allows multiple, concurrentTeleservices to be active at the same time.

TTS Sequence Number

Begins at zero, increments one value per segment, within a segmentstream (TTS Transaction ID).

TTS Message Length

Total length in bytes of the TTS Message (the Teleservice Message afterthe compression service 56 and encryption service 60 have been employed.If neither if these services is used, the TTS Message Length is the sameas the Teleservice Message Length).

Teleservice HLPI

HLPI associated with the Teleservice

Compression

Indicates whether the compression service 56 was utilized on theTeleservice Message, and the compression algorithm employed.

00: No Compression

01: Compression algorithm=XXXX

Encryption

Indicates whether the encryption service 60 was utilized on theTeleservice Message, and the encryption algorithm employed.

00: no encryption

01: Encryption algorithm=XXXX

Teleservice Message Length

Total length of the Teleservice message in plain text (i.e., at the TTSSAP 55 before the application of compression and encryption operations).

Number of Segments

The number of segments necessary to transmit the entire TTS Message. InIS-136, this is the number of R-DATA messages required to convey the,possibly compressed and encrypted, TTS Message 52.

Acknowledgement Window

How often the receiving TTS receiving entity should return positivereceipt confirmation via a TTS Response Message. The receiving entityalso responds at the last segment, and whenever an inter-segment timer(IST) 64a expires.

00: Respond every 4 segments

01: Respond every 8 segments

10: Respond every 16 segments

CRC Status

0: CRC not calculated/provided for Teleservice Message 52

1: CRC calculated/provided for Teleservice Message. The CRC Calculationis performed prior to any compression or encryption at the TTS layer.

Segment Remaining Length (N)

Length in bytes of the remainder of the segment data.

Segment Data

The N bytes of segment data conveyed in this TTS message segment.

CRC

The 16 bit CRC calculated over the original Teleservice Message.

TTS Status

Reports the current status of the TTS Transaction ID stream (inhexadecimal notation).

00: Status OK, operation continuing

01: Inter-Segment Timeout

02: TTS Transaction ID message stream aborted

03: CRC Error

04: Compression Selection not Supported

05: Encryption Selection not Supported

06: TTS Protocol Version not Supported

07: TTS Message Length Error

08: Teleservice Message Length Error

09: Teleservice Message Too Long (indicates insufficient storage forthis message)

0A: Status OK, Teleservice Message Correctly Received

TTS Acknowledgement Map

A bitmap showing the received status of the TTS Segments associated witha given TTS Message stream. The status of each segment is given, withsegment zero present in the LSB of byte one and the status of segment255 given in the MSB of byte 32. Only the number of bytes necessary toconvey status for the Number of Segments are sent.

0: Segment (i) not received

1: Segment (i) received

In accordance with the foregoing it can be appreciated that this aspectof the invention enables a Teleservices message 52 to be encapsulated orpartitioned into a plurality of smaller R-DATA messages, each having amaximum size equal to or less than the size supported by the airinterface services 66 and 68 and the network service 70. The partitionedTeleservices message is then transmitted to a destination in accordancewith the foregoing messaging protocol, and subsequently reassembled intothe original Teleservices message. Between segments (continuation or endsegments) the inter-segment timer (IST) 64a maintained by thedestination assembly service 64 is used to insure the continuity ofsegment transmissions. The use of data compression provides for anefficient use of bandwidth, while the use of encryption provides formessage privacy.

One significant advantage of this invention is that it allows currentand future Teleservices to be defined independently of the air interfacetechnology, as well as independently of any presumptions concerning theservice provided by the network layer.

In practice, there is some upper limit on the size of a givenTeleservice message. In fact, this limit may be variable, as it isimposed through the Sequence Numbers that the TTS assigns for each AirInterface message that is dispatched.

This implies, by example, that a message sequence sent through a BMI 32supporting 127 bytes per R-DATA has a larger theoretical message sizethan one supported by a BMI that limits the R-DATA to 31 bytes. Thisvariance is controlled by defining a maximum size Teleservice message,and insuring that the message Sequence Number range is sufficient toconvey that size message through the smallest valid R-DATA pipeline.

FIG. 6 depicts various potential sizing limits for the TTS. Theexemplary spreadsheet in FIG. 6 provides information that may assist indetermining the best sizing for messages at the TTS layer. The messagesize limit needs to accommodate the largest supported user messagecarried through a Teleservice (for example, the SMS message), theTeleservice header information, the R-DATA header information, and theTTS and R-DATA headers.

For example, and assuming a user message of 512 bytes, 20 bytes ofTeleservice Header data, and 20 bytes of TTS header data provides for a552 byte TTS message. If an additional 8 bytes of R-DATA and TTS headerper R-DATA message is included, the number of R-DATA messages requiredto convey this user message is calculated at the various R-DATA MessageLength values. Once the maximum User Data size is determined, the numberof bits necessary for the TTS Sequence Number is determined from thenumber of R-DATA messages required (i.e., each required R-DATA messageequates to one TTS sequence or segment.)

It can be appreciated that this aspect of the invention can be used fortransporting Teleservice messages (e.g., SMS messages) using the R-DATAconvention and DCCH of, by example, IS-136. It should be furtherappreciated that the use of this aspect of the invention can also beemployed when a DTC is allocated for R-DATA transactions, as wasdescribed above in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is noted that the various message information fields, bit and bytelengths, bit value assignments, numbers of segments betweenacknowledgement messages, etc., are illustrative and not limiting.Furthermore, the various messages defined in Tables A-D can be modifiedto delete information elements and/or to add information elements. Itshould further be realized that the drawing of FIG. 5 can be read as aprocess flow diagram, or as a block diagram of interconnected hardwareand/or software modules.

Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a mobile station of a typethat is bidirectionally coupled to a communications network through awireless interface, comprising the steps of:in response to a presence ofat least one message to be transmitted by the mobile station,determining in the mobile station if the at least one message is to betransmitted over a reverse digital control channel or over a reversedigital traffic channel; in response to the mobile station determiningthat the at least one message is to be transmitted over a reversedigital traffic channel, transmitting a message origination request fromthe mobile station to the network using a reverse digital controlchannel, the request specifying that a reverse digital traffic channelbe assigned to the mobile station; and in response to being assigned toa reverse digital traffic channel, transmitting the at least one messageto a message center that is coupled to the network, the at least onemessage being transmitted over the assigned reverse digital trafficchannel.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the messageorigination request is transmitted using a random access channel.
 3. Amethod as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the atleast one message includes a step of bypassing a voice coder within themobile station.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step oftransmitting the at least one message includes a step of bypassing adata modem within the mobile station.
 5. A method as set forth in claim1, wherein the step of transmitting the at least one message isaccomplished in an ARQ mode of operation.
 6. A method as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the message has a length that exceeds a specifiedmaximum length of a message transport facility, and further comprising astep of partitioning the message into a plurality of segments eachhaving a length equal to or less than the specified maximum length priorto the step of transmitting the at least one message.
 7. A method as setforth in claim 6, wherein the step of partitioning includes a step ofcompressing the message.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 6, whereinthe step of partitioning includes a step of encrypting the message.
 9. Amethod as set forth in claim 6, wherein the step of partitioningincludes steps of:compressing the message; and encrypting the compressedmessage.
 10. A method for operating a communications network of a typethat is bidirectionally coupled to a mobile station through a wirelessinterface, comprising the steps of:determining in the mobile station ifa Teleservices message is to be transmitted over a reverse digitalcontrol channel or over a reverse digital traffic channel; in responseto the mobile station determining that the Teleservices message is to betransmitted over the reverse digital traffic channel, transmitting aTeleservices origination message over a reverse digital control channel;in response to receiving a Teleservice origination request from a mobilestation over the reverse digital control channel, assigning a reversedigital traffic channel to the mobile station; receiving at least oneTeleservice message from the mobile station over the assigned reversedigital traffic channel; and routing the received at least oneTeleservice message to a message center that is coupled to the network.11. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the Teleserviceorigination request is received from a random access channel.
 12. Amethod as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of receiving the atleast one Teleservice message includes a step of bypassing a voicedecoder within the communications network.
 13. A method as set forth inclaim 10, wherein the step of receiving the at least one Teleservicemessage includes a step of bypassing a data modem within thecommunications network.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 10, whereinthe step of receiving the at least one Teleservice message isaccomplished in an ARQ mode of operation.
 15. A method for operating acommunications network of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to amobile station through a wireless interface, comprising the steps of:inresponse to receiving a Teleservice origination request from a mobilestation over a reverse digital control channel, assigning a reversedigital traffic channel to the mobile station; receiving at least oneTeleservice message from the mobile station over the assigned reversedigital traffic channel; and routing the received at least oneTeleservice message to a message center that is coupled to the network,wherein the Teleservice message has a length that exceeds a specifiedmaximum length of digital control channel message transport facility,wherein the step of receiving receives the Teleservice message as aplurality of segments each having a length equal to or less than thespecified maximum length, and further comprising the steps ofreassembling the segments into the Teleservice message.
 16. A method asset forth in claim 15, wherein the step of reassembling includes afurther step of decompressing the reassembled Teleservice message.
 17. Amethod as set forth in claim 15, wherein the step of reassemblingincludes a further step of decrypting the reassembled Teleservicemessage.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the step ofreassembling includes the further steps of:decrypting the reassembledTeleservice message; and decompressing the decrypted Teleservicemessage.
 19. A mobile station of a type that is bidirectionally coupledto a communications network through a wireless interface, comprising:acontroller for storing at least one message in a memory accessible bythe mobile station, said controller further determining if the at leastone stored message is to be transmitted over a reverse digital controlchannel or over a reverse digital traffic channel; and transmissioncircuitry, responsive to the controller determining that the at leastone message is to be transmitted over a reverse digital traffic channel,for transmitting a SMS origination request from the mobile station tothe network using a reverse digital control channel, the requestspecifying that a reverse digital traffic channel be assigned to themobile station, said transmission circuitry being responsive to anassignment of a reverse digital traffic channel to the mobile station,for transmitting the at least one stored message to a SMS center that iscoupled to the network, the at least one stored message beingtransmitted over the assigned reverse digital traffic channel.
 20. Amobile station as set forth in claim 19, wherein the SMS originationrequest is transmitted using a random access channel.
 21. A mobilestation as set forth in claim 19, wherein said controller operates tobypass a voice coder within the mobile station when transmitting the atleast one stored message.
 22. A mobile station as set forth in claim 19,wherein said controller operates to bypass a data modem within themobile station when transmitting the at least one stored message.
 23. Amobile station as set forth in claim 19, wherein said transmissioncircuitry and said controller operate in an ARQ mode of operation whentransmitting the at least one stored message.
 24. A method as set forthin claim 19, wherein said controller comprises means for at least one ofcompressing the SMS message or encrypting the SMS message prior to saidtransmission circuitry transmitting the stored SMS message.
 25. A methodfor operating a wireless communications network to transmit aTeleservices message from a source to a destination, comprising thesteps of:inputting to a Teleservice Transmission Service (TTS) aTeleservices message to be transmitted, the Teleservices message beinginput through a first TTS Service Access Point (SAP); partitioning theTeleservices message into a plurality of smaller message segments eachhaving a maximum size that is equal to or less than a specified maximumlength of a message unit for a digital control channel (DCCH) messagetransport facility; outputting the message segments from the TTS througha second SAP to an air interface service for transmission to thedestination; transmitting a first message from the source to thedestination for specifying at least a total number of message segmentsto be transmitted, the first message also conveying a first messagesegment; transmitting one or more second messages from the source to thedestination, each second message conveying a further message segment andalso specifying at least a number of remaining message segments; andtransmitting a final message from the source to the destination, thefinal message conveying a last message segment and also specifying theend of the Teleservices message.
 26. A method as set forth in claim 25,wherein the step of partitioning includes a preliminary step ofcompressing the Teleservices message.
 27. A method as set forth in claim25, wherein the step of partitioning includes a preliminary step ofencrypting the Teleservices message.
 28. A method as set forth in claim25, wherein the step of partitioning includes the preliminary stepsof:compressing the Teleservices message; and encrypting the compressedTeleservices message.
 29. A method as set forth in claim 28, wherein thestep of transmitting the first message transmits information forspecifying a type of compression that was applied to the Teleservicesmessage, if any, and information for specifying a type of encryptionthat was applied to the Teleservices message, if any.
 30. A method asset forth in claim 25, wherein the steps of transmitting each transmitinformation for specifying an identification of the Teleservicesmessage.
 31. A method as set forth in claim 25, and further comprising astep of receiving a response message from the destination, the responsemessage including information for specifying, for each transmittedmessage segment, whether the message segment was correctly received. 32.A method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the steps of transmittingtransmit the messages through the digital control channel (DCCH).
 33. Amethod as set forth in claim 25, wherein the steps of transmittingtransmit the messages through a digital traffic channel (DTC), andwherein the steps of transmitting each include a step of bypassing avoice coder in the source.
 34. A method as set forth in claim 25,wherein the steps of transmitting transmit the messages through adigital traffic channel (DTC), and wherein the steps of transmittingeach include a step of bypassing a data modem in the source.
 35. Amethod as set forth in claim 25, wherein the Teleservice message is aSMS message.
 36. A method as set forth in claim 25, wherein theTeleservice message is an OATS message.
 37. A method for operating amobile station of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to acommunications network through a wireless interface, comprising thesteps of:in response to a presence of a message to be transmitted by themobile station, determining in the mobile station if the message is tobe transmitted over a reverse digital control channel or over a reversedigital traffic channel, the determination being based on a length ofthe message; in response to the mobile station determining that themessage is to be transmitted over a reverse digital traffic channel,transmitting a message origination request from the mobile station tothe network using a reverse digital control channel, the requestspecifying that a reverse digital traffic channel be assigned to themobile station; and in response to being assigned to a reverse digitaltraffic channel, transmitting the message over the assigned reversedigital traffic channel.
 38. A method for operating a mobile station ofa type that is bidirectionally coupled to a communications networkthrough a wireless interface, comprising the steps of:in response to apresence of a message to be transmitted by the mobile station,determining in the mobile station if the message is to be transmittedover a reverse digital control channel or over a reverse digital trafficchannel, the determination being based on a user input; in response tothe mobile station determining that the message is to be transmittedover a reverse digital traffic channel, transmitting a messageorigination request from the mobile station to the network using areverse digital control channel, the request specifying that a reversedigital traffic channel be assigned to the mobile station; and inresponse to being assigned to a reverse digital traffic channel,transmitting the message over the assigned reverse digital trafficchannel.